Motorists in Perth and Mandurah are advised to fill up now if they need to, with petrol prices set to rise tomorrow. Over the past few weeks, the pattern of petrol pricing by the major fuel companies shows a full return to weekly price cycles. After today, motorists will likely have to wait a week before petrol prices are again at the bottom of the price cycle. FuelWatch reports that, from 6am...

Unlicensed motor vehicle repairer to pay $2,000 fine and $566 in costs Repairer advertised services via Facebook and a website Consumers urged to do licence checks before engaging repairers An Ellenbrook motor vehicle repairer has been fined $2,000 by the Perth Magistrates Court for carrying out mobile mechanical repairs without a licence. Victor James Wright was also ordered to pay costs of $566...

LED String Fairy Lights Net Mesh does not comply with electrical safety standards Buyers of this product must discontinue use and unplug immediately One consumer has reported an electrical shock injury needing hospital treatment Consumers are being urgently warned about dangerous Christmas lights that have caused an electric shock injury and are believed to have been sold recently in WA. In a...

Electric scooters, skateboards and hoverboards will no doubt appear under many Christmas trees this year, however there’s a very good reason why families should avoid buying eRideables as gifts for their children this festive season. While they may be an increasingly popular and fun way to get around, the reality is that eRideables are not toys and they are capable of causing very serious...

With the warm summer months upon us, many families will spend more time outdoors and around water, so it is important to be aware of the risks to keep safe while having fun in the sun. Sadly 339 people have lost their lives to drowning in Australia this year, according to figures from Royal Life Saving Australia. Rivers and creeks accounted for 34 per cent of all drowning deaths, followed by...

Family and domestic violence (FDV) is an extremely serious issue in our community, so we need to make sure the right laws are in place to not only support victim-survivors, but to keep them and their children out of harm’s way. An estimated 24,000 Western Australians sought help from specialist homelessness services last year, with 41 per cent needing these services because they were experiencing...

With eRideables expected to be popular gifts this Christmas, shoppers are being reminded that while they are a fun way to get around, they are not toys and should not be used by anyone under 16 years of age. Consumer Protection and the Road Safety Commission have teamed-up with eRideable retailers ahead of the festive season in a bid to keep riders and the wider community safe. Retailers have...

It can be disappointing missing out on tickets to a favourite artist or sports team. Some ticket buyers may even be willing to fork out hundreds of dollars extra to an online ticket reseller just to be able to go to the event. There is some good news for consumers and their wallets with the Australian Government introducing a new event ticketing standard to help ticket buyers make informed...

Critical warning when using rechargeable batteries Number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries rising sharply Think twice before buying rechargeable devices without original charger Take charge of your safety. That is the message for everyone buying or receiving a lithium-ion powered gift this Christmas. Consumer Protection is warning that lithium-ion battery chargers, and the way they are...

Agency and supervisor fined $7,000 each for failing their legal obligations Sales rep fined $2,000 after working for nine months without registration Reminder to real estate industry to be aware of their duties under the law A North Perth real estate agency, its supervisor and an unregistered sales representative have been fined a total of $16,000 by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) as a...

Statutory Review will assess effectiveness of the special family and domestic violence provisions in tenancy laws Community consultation will determine if laws need fine-tuning Consultation begins with the 16 Days in WA campaign to end violence against women getting underway later this week Special provisions in tenancy laws aimed at helping renters in situations of family and domestic violence (...

Funeral pricing will be publicly available to enable easy comparisons Grieving family and friends will know the total cost before a funeral is held Unscrupulous sales practices will be stamped out to stop overcharging New regulations are now in place that will result in funeral costs being clearer and making it easier for those grieving to make informed decisions at a difficult time. Funeral...